ABC reported that more than 100 wharf workers have gone on strike at Fremantle Port and the Kwinana bulk terminal, south of Perth.
The Maritime Union says members have stopped work because they want their new enterprise agreements to include a clause guaranteeing they will not lose their jobs if some or all port operations are privatised in the future.
The union's Will Tracey said that the Transport Minister Troy Buswell has promised that will not happen but the workers want it in writing.
He said “We're keen to get these guys back to work and get this port working as soon as we can. The Government's just got to come to a commonsense decision.”
Mr Tracey says the industrial action is a last-ditch effort to get job security. He said “We just don't want to see a situation where either privatization or asset sales is used to manufacture mass sackings without any involvement or consultation with the union. That's the concern we've got.”
On the weekend, Mr Buswell ruled out privatisation of the port. He said”The Government has absolutely no plans to privatise Fremantle Port. It's a state owned port and as far as we're concerned always will be a state owned port."
